GOTEBORG, Sweden, Dec. 19, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Deliveries from Volvo's (Nasdaq:VOLVY) truck operations, which includes Volvo Trucks, Mack Trucks, Inc. and Renault Trucks, declined by 7% for the month of November, compared with the same month last year. On a year-to-date basis, deliveries amounted to 143,840 trucks, an increase of 1% compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year. In Europe, deliveries declined by 3% while North America posted a 10% increase compared with the first 11 months in 2001.
"Truck deliveries remained at a high level in Europe during November while deliveries in North America declined as expected as a consequence of the implementation of the EPA02 emission standards. We are now utilizing the lower volumes to ramp-up the production of Mack trucks in the New River Valley plant. This activity is proceeding well and according to plan," said Volvo's CEO Leif Johansson.
On a 12-month rolling basis, total order bookings for the truck brands was 2% higher than last year, with Europe down 3% and North America up 11%.
Deliveries by market area:
Delivered Units Year-to-Date Change
Volvo Group 2002 2001
Europe 87 136 90 148 -3%
Western Europe 79 166 83 373 -5%
Eastern Europe 7 970 6 775 18%
North America 34 809 31 685 10%
South America 4 867 5 292 -8%
Asia 8 143 5 736 42%
Other markets 8 885 9 062 -2%
Total Volvo Group 143 840 141 923 1%
Mack Trucks, Inc.
Mack posted a 3% increase in deliveries through November. During November, Mack formally closed its truck assembly operations in Winnsboro, SC and took two non-production weeks at its Macungie, PA facility.
Deliveries by market area:
Delivered Units Year-to-Date Change
Mack Trucks Inc. 2002 2001
Europe 1 6 n.a.
Western Europe 1 n.a.
Eastern Europe 6 n.a.
North America 20 800 19 514 7%
South America 586 1 130 -48%
Asia 18 52 -65%
Other markets 883 863 2%
Total Mack Trucks Inc. 22 288 21 565 3%
Renault Trucks
Deliveries are following the downward trend in Western Europe. The light truck segment has continued to show positive momentum, however.
Deliveries by market area:
Delivered Units Year-to-Date Change
Renault Trucks 2002 2001
Europe 52 568 52 171 1%
Western Europe 49 116 49 593 -1%
Eastern Europe 3 452 2 578 34%
North America #DIV/0!
South America #DIV/0!
Asia 345 525 -34%
Other markets 5 651 6 006 -6%
Total Renault Trucks 58 564 58 702 0%
Volvo Trucks
Order intake for the newly introduced Volvo VN range continues to be at a good level, with 4,000 orders placed so far. In Europe, Volvo Trucks is continuing to run the production system at full capacity in order to meet the demand for the new Volvo FH and Volvo FM trucks.
Deliveries by market area:
Delivered Units Year-to-Date Change
Volvo Trucks 2002 2001
Europe 34 567 37 971 -9%
Western Europe 30 049 33 780 -11%
Eastern Europe 4 518 4 191 8%
North America 14 009 12 171 15%
South America 4 281 4 162 3%
Asia 7 780 5 159 51%
Other markets 2 351 2 193 7%
Total Volvo Trucks 62 988 61 656 2%
For further information, please contact:
Bernard Lancelot
Renault Trucks
+33 4 72 96 27 59
Bob Martin
Mack Trucks, Inc.
+1 (610) 709-2670
Claes Claeson
Volvo Truck Corporation
+46 31 66 39 08, +46 708-36 39 08
The Volvo Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive systems for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and services. The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which employs about 71,000 people, has production facilities in 25 countries and sells their products in more than 185 markets. Annual sales of the Volvo Group amount to 18 billion euro. The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquarterd in Goteborg, Sweden. Volvo shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Stockholm, London, Brussels and Frankfurt and on NASDAQ in the U.S.
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